Cricket's big test

Cricket is facing an identity crisis unique to sport. Its two principal cash cows - India and England - have been left perplexed and nervous following the catastrophic failures of their national sides in high-profile series away from home.

Cricket is facing an identity crisis unique to sport. Its two principal cash cows - India and England - have been left perplexed and nervous following the catastrophic failures of their national sides in high-profile series away from home. With India, the financial engine of the game, the alarm bells have been deafening following twin whitewashes in England and Australia. The prospect of further mediocre performances from a team now staring at transition has got advertisers, the Indian cricket board and even world body ICC glum faced.

There is real danger their failure - highlighted ad infinitum by the media in both countries - is now triggering disenchantment among lovers of the game and consequently, a cooling off on the part of the corporate sector which bankrolls most events.Indian's problems are indeed grave. Not since 1962, when the team was dubiously inflicted a second consecutive 5-0 defeat in overseas Test series -in the West Indies, following the humiliation in England in 1959 - has the country's cricket been heaped with such 'dishonour'. In fact, even half a century ago when the Indians were whitewashed, they did not capitulate as abysmally as now. This despite being bereft of international experience and protective headgear to tackle the fury of Freddie Trueman, Brian Statham, Wesley Hall and Charlie Griffith on uncovered pitches.

Many feel the team's failure has highlighted the need for an administrative overhaul in the Board of Control for Cricket in India and showed up the weak governance of the domestic game. The BCCI is copping flak for being dictated by commercial entities eager only to capture eyeballs, not plough money into grassroots development to produce better cricketers. For nearly 30 years, the opportunity to channel corporate enthusiasm to Indian's cricket's advantage has been missed.

Instead, there has manifested a greedy obsession with the T20 Indian Premier League and endless limited-overs cricket, with no affirmative action to preserve national pride at the highest level, or to maintain the sanctity of Test cricket. The proliferation of limited-overs cricket has ensured that bad batting techniques have crept into the Test arena. The presence of flat pitches, an absence of close catchers and often shorter boundaries have contributed to India's dismal batting performances in England and Australia, where the faster, greener wickets exposed the slow footwork and weakening reflexes of India's ageing batting maestros.

The Indian selectors had ample scope of phasing in fresh talent. Rohit Sharma, who has more time to spare than any other prospect, has been endlessly waiting in the wings. Admittedly, the cupboard is comparatively bare on the bowling front. The recurring embarrassment of being unable to bowl a team out even once in a match has now prompted the BCCI to go into a long overdue huddle to come up with solutions. Injury management, too, has been a perennial bane of Indian cricket. The Board's unwillingness to send bowlers to the English country circuit - a stint which the likes of Zaheer Khan benefited immensely from - has also hampered the development of young prospects.